Why We Shouldn’t Demonize Formula Feeding

But in our passionate efforts to raise breastfeeding rates  especially in the U.S., where they still fall short of global averages  we’ve sometimes gone too far in discouraging formula use. In hospitals, new mothers are often urged to avoid formula entirely during those first fragile days before milk supply fully kicks in. Many hospitals even stopped sending families home with formula samples.

All of this comes from a good place: we know that if mothers and babies can push through those early, exhausting days, breastfeeding often becomes easier and more sustainable. But while promoting breastfeeding, we must also remember a crucial truth: formula feeding is not the enemy.

When Formula Helps, Not Hurts

A 2018 study in the Journal of Pediatrics examined babies who had lost a concerning amount of weight after birth something that’s common but potentially dangerous. The researchers divided infants into two groups: one received a small amount of formula after each breastfeeding session until the mother’s milk supply was established; the other group did not.

The results were eye-opening. Babies who received supplemental formula were less likely to be readmitted to the hospital, and at one month old, they were just as likely to still be breastfeeding.

This casts doubt on the notion that introducing formulas inevitably undermines breastfeeding. A tiny bit of formula can occasionally serve as a bridge, enabling moms and infants to get through those difficult early days without feeling anxious, guilty, or dehydrated.

The Truth About Breastfeeding

Although exclusive nursing is lovely and instinctive, it may also be difficult, emotional, and even physically taxing at times.

Delayed milk supply, inverted nipples, low production, exhaustion, anxiety, or lack of support can make it feel impossible.

And not every mother has access to lactation consultants, flexible work schedules, or family members who understand what she’s going through. For a first-time mom, sore nipples and sleepless nights can quickly spiral into self-doubt.

As a mother of six, I’ve lived this reality. My last three children were exclusively breastfed, but my first three also received formula out of necessity, not failure. Parenting is not a purity contest; it’s a balancing act between ideals and reality.

Supporting All Mothers, Not Shaming Some

We absolutely should continue promoting breastfeeding.However, we also need to create the frameworks that actually make it happen, such as paid parental leave, easily available lactation assistance, programs for breast pumps, and work environments that value pumping breaks.

We must also cease portraying formulas as a moral failing as we work toward this goal.

Formula can be a lifeline, not a last resort. It can stabilize newborns who’ve lost too much weight, help mothers supplement instead of quit, and empower working parents who simply can’t produce enough milk during long work hours.

When we frame feeding as “all or nothing,” we push more mothers to give up entirely  when in reality, a little flexibility could help them continue breastfeeding longer.

Feeding With Love, Not Judgment

Demonizing formulas doesn’t just hurt policies, it hurts people. It shames women who, for perfectly valid medical, emotional, or logistical reasons, choose not to breastfeed.

Babies don’t need perfection; they need nourishment, comfort, and love. There are many paths to healthy, thriving children and breastfeeding is just one of them.

Therefore, while love is superior, breast is still the finest. And a parent's love should be respected, not criticized, regardless of how they chose to raise their child.